How do I use Gmail in China in 2019? If you’re like me, you use Gmail or the Google Apps suite for business or for personal email. I love everything about using Gmail except for one thing: all Google apps are blocked in China. This means that in order for you to use Gmail in China in 2019, you’re going to need an extra piece of software known as a VPN.

It doesn’t matter whether you access Gmail on your phone, computer or tablet – in China, you can’t open the webpage or download your mail using your favorite email client.

As an expat who has been living and doing business in China for the last 5 years, this bothers me. I’ve tried using other email services while in China but frankly…they all suck. There’s a reason that Gmail is the top email service provider.

Is Gmail Blocked in China?

Yes, Gmail is blocked. And it’s not just Gmail; China blocks all Google apps including, YouTube, Blogger, Google Sheets, Google Docs, etc. Anything that is owned and hosted by Google is currently inaccessible in China.

So Google was forced to exit China and all their services were blocked.

How I Access Gmail in China

So if Gmail is blocked in China, how do I access it every day? (and I do access it every, single day!)

The way that I use Gmail in China is the same as almost every expat who has lived in the country over the past decade: I use a Virtual Private Network, also known as a “VPN”.

At the risk of getting too technical, a VPN is basically a direct, encrypted connection with another computer server. By connecting to a server outside of China and then using that server to access the internet, you’re able to bypass China’s internet censorship.

China has cracked down on the use of VPNs over the years but has never labeled it as “illegal”. They’re trying to discourage the use of VPNs by Chinese people but the honestly don’t care that we foreigners use one.

Personally, I use ExpressVPN to access Gmail in China and it works something like this:

I download the ExpressVPN app on my computer, tablet and/or phone

Anytime I’m in China and need to access the internet freely, I ‘turn on’ the VPN (i.e. connect to a VPN server)

As long as the VPN is connected, I can access Gmail and any other website I need.

Tips for Using a VPN in China

If you decide to use a VPN while traveling around China (and I recommend that you seriously consider it), here are a few tips that I’ve picked up over the years of living in and traveling around China:

Install the VPN Before You Arrive in China. Naturally, China blocks access to most VPN websites, making it very difficult to download and setup a VPN once you arrive in China. If possible, I suggest you purchase, download and setup your VPN in your home country before you leave.

Don’t Be Surprised if your VPN Acts Up. As I mentioned earlier, China loves to make VPN connections difficult. Sometimes I can’t connect to the server I want, so I just have to try a different server connection.

Get a Backup VPN if Necessary. For me, accessing the internet without censorship is vital to my business. For this reason, I have active subscriptions to two different VPN services: one that I use regularly and two that I use as backups. Every expat is different, but for me, my primary VPN is ExpressVPN and I have setup NordVPN as a very good backup. The reason I recommend these two is that they both offer 30 day money back guarantees for travelers.

Don’t Get Freaked Out. I get emails from travelers on a weekly basis that ask me if using a VPN in a hotel, or at a coffee shop or staying connected all the time will get them in trouble. Don’t get freaked out. I’ve never heard of any foreign expat getting in trouble for connecting to a VPN and the beauty is, the encrypted connection means they don’t know what you’re doing while you’re connected.

Conclusion | Use Gmail in China 2019

The VPN solution to the Gmail in China problem is a no-brainer. If your company doesn’t already provide you with a VPN, it’s cheap and easy to purchase a personal VPN like ExpressVPN and use that to bypass censorship.

The truth is that email isn’t as common in China as it is in the western world. Chinese people prefer to do business over messaging apps like WeChat and they really don’t care that Gmail is blocked.

For us expats, however, it’s often an essential part of communication. If that’s you, I hope this short tutorial on how to use Gmail in China has been helpful. :)

About Josh Summers

Josh is a writer, musician and entrepreneur who currently resides in Urumqi, capital of China's western province of Xinjiang. He has been traveling and writing about this region since 2006 and has no plans to stop in the near future.

It’s not that hard with a good VPN. I purchased NordVPN last week because I’m planning to visit my sister-in-law who lives in Tianjin. She recommended me to try Nord as it gives the best results for her because new servers are being added very often. I could say more after I’ll try it myself.